Status of the Arabian leopard (Panthera pardus nimr) - Biosphere

50 Pages·2008·4.81 MB·English

by  Matthias Hammer

EXPEDITION REPORT
Expeditiondates:13-8February2008
Reportpublished:November2008
Status of the Arabian leopard
(Panthera pardus nimr) in Dhofar,
Sultanate of Oman.
EXPEDITION REPORT
Status of the Arabian leopard
(Panthera pardus nimr) in Dhofar,
Sultanate of Oman.
Expeditiondates:
13January-8February2008
Reportpublished:
November2008
Author:
MarceloMazzolli
ProjetoPuma
MatthiasHammer(editor)
BiosphereExpeditions
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Abstract
The Arabian leopard Panthera pardus nimr has disappeared from much of its former range
on the Arabian Peninsula so that today populations are limited to the most remote areas.
Previous Biosphere Expeditions studies in 2006 and 2007 have suggested the existence
of a remnant population on the Omani side of the Musandam peninsula. The Musandam
peninsula is located south of the Strait of Hormus at the entrance of the Arabian Gulf on
the northeastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula and as such forms an exclave of Oman
bordered by the United Arab Emirates. The leopard population on the peninsula was
thought to be very small and the lack of evidence of two important prey species, namely
the Arabian tahr Hemitragus jayakari and gazelle Gazella gazella cora, and of the other
top carnivore, the Arabian wolf Canis lupus arabs, provided a clear picture of the
conditions under which leopard numbers have declined. The killing of animals, habitat
degradation and livestock and human disturbance were the main causes of decline.
Following on from this work, this report details the surveys conducted by Biosphere
Expeditions in January and February 2008 in the area limited by the wadis Amat and
Uyun, located in northwest Dhofar in southern Oman. The location is on the Arabian
leopard’s northern distribution boundary in the Dhofar mountains, currently the last
stronghold of the leopard in Oman. It is also where intensive studies on wild leopards are
ongoing under the auspices of the Office for Conservation for the Environment, Diwan of
Royal Court, including camera trapping and radio tracking of leopards. There was,
however, a gap in the knowledge on the status of the leopard and its prey in the study
area, and the mission of Biosphere Expeditions was to remove that information gap.
The expedition surveyed the wadi floors, ledges, and ridges for signs of Arabian leopard,
its prey species, and other wildlife that could provide information on habitat quality. Three
camera traps were set by the end of the expedition and are still in place. Nine potential
signs of leopards in the form of scats were collected resulting in a frequency of 0.067 scats
per kilometre, but no recent evidence of the Arabian leopard’s presence was recorded.
The habitat of the study area was, however, found to be in good condition. It had a rich
assemblage of the main prey species and harboured a number of threatened large
mammalian fauna. Signs of livestock overgrazing, so prevalent on the Musandam
peninsula, were not found. The Nubian ibex Capra ibex nubiana, mountain gazelle Gazella
gazella cora, and rock hyrax Procavia capensis were present in more than half of the fifty-
one 2 x 2 km cells surveyed. Multiple records of hyaena Hyaena hyaena sultana, a
predator with large resource requirements, corroborated the good quality of the habitat, as
did the presence of caracal Caracal caracal schmitzi and Arabian wolf Canis lupus arabs.
Interviews indicated that leopards were once encountered more frequently by herders and
this finding supports the species’ loss of range mentioned in the literature and is
compatible with the expected higher vulnerability of species’ along its distributional edge.
In conclusion the report provides a number of recommendations regarding future research,
capacity building, local community involvement, networking, information dissemination and
compensation schemes which should be considered in order to provide the Arabian
leopard with a chance to not only survive in Oman but to also re-colonise areas of its
historical distribution range.
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©BiosphereExpeditions
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ﺺﺨﻠﻣ
ﻲﻓ ﺎًﯿﻟﺎﺣ هدﻮﺟو ﺮﺼﺤﻨﯾو ،ﺔﯿﺑﺮﻌﻟا ةﺮﯾﺰﺠﻟا ﮫﺒﺷ ﻲﻓ ﮫﺸﯿﻋ ﻖطﺎﻨﻣ ﻢﻈﻌﻣ ﻦﻣ ﻲﺑﺮﻌﻟا ﺮﻤﻨﻟا ضﺮﻘﻧا
ﻰﻟإ م2007و 2006 ﻲﻣﺎﻋ ﻲﻓ ﺔﻘﺑﺎﺴﻟا ﺰﻨﺸﯾﺪﯿﺒﺴﻛا ﺮﯿﻔﺳﻮﯿﺑ تﺎﺳارد ترﺎﺷأ ﺪﻗو .ﺔﯿﺋﺎﻨﻟا ﻦﻛﺎﻣﻷا
ﻞﺧﺪﻤﻟا ﺪﻨﻋ ﺰﻣﺮھ ﻖﯿﻀﻣ بﻮﻨﺟ ﺔﻌﻗاﻮﻟا مﺪﻨﺴﻣ ةﺮﯾﺰﺟ ﮫﺒﺷ ﻦﻣ ﺔﯿﻧﺎﻤﻌﻟا ﺔﮭﺠﻟا ﻲﻓ ﺎﮭﻨﻣ داﺪﻋأ ءﺎﻘﺑ
ﺔﻟوﺰﻌﻣ ﺔﯿﻧﺎﻤﻋ ﺔﻈﻓﺎﺤﻣ مﺪﻨﺴﻣو .ﺔﯿﺑﺮﻌﻟا ةﺮﯾﺰﺠﻟا ﮫﺒﺷ قﺮﺷ لﺎﻤﺷ سأر ﻰﻠﻋ ﻲﺑﺮﻌﻟا ﺞﯿﻠﺨﻟا ﻰﻟإ
ﻦﻣ ًاﺪﺟ ﺔﻠﯿﻠﻗ داﺪﻋأ دﻮﺟو ﻰﻟإ ﻞﺋﻻﺪﻟا ﺮﯿﺸﺗو .ةﺪﺤﺘﻤﻟا ﺔﯿﺑﺮﻌﻟا تارﺎﻣﻹا ﺔﻟود دوﺪﺤﺑ ﺔطﺎﺤﻣو
ﻲﺑﺮﻌﻟا ﺮﮭﻄﻟا ﺎﻤھو ﮫﺴﺋاﺮﻓ ﻢھأ دﻮﺟو ﻰﻠﻋ ﺔﻟدأ ﻰﻠﻋ لﻮﺼﺤﻟا ﻢﺘﯾ ﻢﻟ ﺎﻤﻛ ،مﺪﻨﺴﻣ لﺎﺒﺟ ﻲﻓ رﻮﻤﻨﻟا
ةرﻮﺻ ﻲﻄﻌﯾ ﺎﻤﻣ ﻲﺑﺮﻌﻟا ﺐﺋﺬﻟﺎﻛ ىﺮﺧأ ﺔﺳﺮﺘﻔﻣ تﺎﻧاﻮﯿﺣ دﻮﺟو مﺪﻋ ﻰﻟإ ﺔﻓﺎﺿﻹﺎﺑ لاﺰﻐﻟاو
ﺪﯿﺻ ﻰﻟإ ﺺﻗﺎﻨﺘﻟا اﺬﮭﻟ ﺔﺴﯿﺋﺮﻟا بﺎﺒﺳﻷا دﻮﻌﺗو .رﻮﻤﻨﻟا داﺪﻋأ ﺎﮭﯿﻓ ﺖﺼﻗﺎﻨﺗ ﻲﺘﻟا لاﻮﺣﻸﻟ ﺔﺤﺿاو
.يﺮﺸﺒﻟا نﺎﻄﯿﺘﺳﻻاو ﺎﮭﺸﯿﻋ ﻖطﺎﻨﻤﻟ ﺔﯿﺷﺎﻤﻟا نﺎﻌﻄﻗ ﺔﺴﻓﺎﻨﻣو تﺎﻧاﻮﯿﺤﻟا
ﻲﻓ ﺰﻨﺸﯾﺪﯿﺒﺴﻛأ ﺮﯿﻔﺳﻮﯿﺑ ﺎﮭﺑ ﺖﻣﺎﻗ ﻲﺘﻟا ﺢﺴﻤﻟا لﺎﻤﻋأ ﺮﯾﺮﻘﺘﻟا اﺬھ ﻦﯿﺒﯾ ، تﺎﺳارﺪﻟا هﺬﮭﻟ ﺔﻌﺑﺎﺘﻣو
بﺮﻏ لﺎﻤﺷ ﻲﻓ نﻮﯿﻋ يداوو تﺎﻤﻋ يداو ﻦﯿﺑ ﺔﻌﻗاﻮﻟا ﺔﻘﻄﻨﻤﻟا ﻲﻓ م2008 ﺮﯾاﺮﺒﻓو ﺮﯾﺎﻨﯾ يﺮﮭﺷ
لﺎﺒﺟ ﻲﻓ رﻮﻤﻨﻟا ﺶﯿﻋ ﺔﻘﻄﻨﻤﻟ ﺔﯿﻟﺎﻤﺸﻟا دوﺪﺤﻟا ﻊﻗﻮﻤﻟا اﺬھ ﻞﺜﻤﯾو .ﺔﻨﻄﻠﺴﻟا بﻮﻨﺟ ﻲﻓ رﺎﻔظ ﺔﻈﻓﺎﺤﻣ
تﺎﺳارد ﮫﯿﻓ يﺮﺠﺗ يﺬﻟا نﺎﻜﻤﻟا ﮫﻧأ ﺎﻤﻛ .ﺔﻨﻄﻠﺴﻟا ﻲﻓ رﻮﻤﻨﻠﻟ ﺮﯿﺧﻷا ﻦطﻮﻤﻟا ﻞﺜﻤﺗ ﻲﺘﻟاو رﺎﻔظ
ماﺪﺨﺘﺳا ﮫﯿﻓ ﻢﺗ يﺬﻟاو ﻲﻧﺎﻄﻠﺴﻟا طﻼﺒﻟا ناﻮﯾﺪﺑ ﺔﺌﯿﺒﻟا ﻆﻔﺣ ﺐﺘﻜﻣ ﺔﯾﺎﻋﺮﺑ رﻮﻤﻨﻟا ﻰﻠﻋ ﺔﻔﺜﻜﻣ
ﺮﯿﻔﺳﻮﯿﺑ تﻼﻤﺣ ﺪﻋﺎﺴﺗو .ﺔﯿﻋﺎﻨﻄﺻﻻا رﺎﻤﻗﻷا ﺮﺒﻋ ًﺎﯿﻜﻠﺳﻻ رﻮﻤﻨﻟا رﺎﺛآ ﻊﺒﺘﺗو ﺔﯿﺨﻔﻟا تاﺮﯿﻣﺎﻜﻟا
.ﮫﺴﺋاﺮﻓو ﺮﻤﻨﻟا ﻊﺿو لﻮﺣ تﺎﻣﻮﻠﻌﻤﻟا ﻰﻠﻋ لﻮﺼﺤﻠﻟ ﺔﯿﻧاﺪﯿﻤﻟا تﺎﺣﻮﺴﻤﻟا ءاﺮﺟإ ﻲﻓ ﺰﻨﺸﯾﺪﯿﺒﺴﻛأ
ﻦﻋ ًﺎﺜﺤﺑ ﺔﻘﻄﻨﻤﻟا ﻲﻓ ﺔﯿﻠﺒﺠﻟا ﻞﺳﻼﺴﻟاو تارﺪﺤﻨﻤﻟاو ﺔﯾدوﻸﻟ ﺎﯿﻧاﺪﯿﻣ ﺢﺴﻤﺑ ﺔﻠﻤﺤﻟا ﺖﻣﺎﻗ ﺪﻗو
ﻞﺋاﻮﻤﻟا ةدﻮﺟ ﻦﻋ ﻒﺸﻜﻟا ﻲﻓ ﺪﻋﺎﺴﺗ ﺪﻗ ﻲﺘﻟاو ىﺮﺧأ ﺔﯾﺮﺑ ءﺎﯿﺣأو ﮫﺴﺋاﺮﻓو ﻲﺑﺮﻌﻟا ﺮﻤﻨﻠﻟ تاﺮﺷﺆﻣ
ﻊﻤﺟ ﻢﺗ ﺎﻤﻛ .ﺎﮭﻌﻗاﻮﻤﺑ ﺔﺑﻮﺼﻨﻣ لاﺰﺗ ﻻ ﻲﺘﻟاو ﺔﯿﺨﻓ ﺮﯾﻮﺼﺗ تﻻآ ﺔﺛﻼﺛ ﻊﺿو ﻢﺗ ﺔﻠﻤﺤﻟا ﺔﯾﺎﮭﻨﺑو .
ﺔﻨﯿﻋ ﻞﻛ ﻦﯿﺑ ﻢﻛ0,067 برﺎﻘﺗ تﺎﻓﺎﺴﻣ ﻰﻠﻋ ﺎﮭﯿﻠﻋ رﻮﺜﻌﻟا ﻢﺗ ﺮﻤﻨﻠﻟ ﺔﻠﻤﺘﺤﻣ زاﺮﺑ تﺎﻨﯿﻋ ﻊﺴﺗ
ﻲﻓ ﺖﻧﺎﻜﻓ ﺔﺳورﺪﻤﻟا ﺔﻘﻄﻨﻤﻟا ﻞﺋاﻮﻣ ﺎﻣأ .ﻲﺑﺮﻌﻟا ﺮﻤﻨﻟا ﺪﺟاﻮﺗ ﻰﻠﻋ ﺔﺜﯾﺪﺣ ﻞﺋﻻد ﻞﯿﺠﺴﺗ نود ىﺮﺧأو
ﻲﺘﻟا ﺮﺋﺎﺠﻟا ﻲﻋﺮﻟا رﺎﺛآ ﺚﯿﺣ ,ةﺮﯿﺒﻜﻟا تﺎﯿﯾﺪﺜﻟا ﺎﮭﯿﻓ ﺎﻤﺑ ﺔﺴﯿﺋﺮﻟا ﺲﺋاﺮﻔﻟا ﻰﻠﻋ تﻮﺘﺣا ذإ ةﺪﯿﺟ ﺔﻟﺎﺣ
ﺮﺑﻮﻟاو ﻲﻠﺒﺠﻟا لاﺰﻐﻟاو ﻲﺑﻮﻨﻟا ﻞﻋﻮﻟا نأ ﺢﺴﻤﻟا ﺮﮭظأو .ةدﻮﺟﻮﻣ ﻦﻜﺗ ﻢﻟ مﺪﻨﺴﻣ ﻲﻓ ﺔﺤﺿاو ﺖﻧﺎﻛ
51 ﺎھدﺪﻋ تﺎﻌﺑﺮﻣ ﻞﻜﺷ ﻰﻠﻋ ﺔﺣﻮﺴﻤﻤﻟا تﺎﺣﺎﺴﻤﻟا ﻒﺼﻧ ﻦﻣ ﺮﺜﻛأ ﻲﻓ ةدﻮﺟﻮﻣ ﺖﻟاﺰﻟ يﺮﺨﺼﻟا
(ةﺮﯿﺒﻜﻟا ﺔﺳﺮﺘﻔﻤﻟا تﺎﻧاﻮﯿﺤﻟا ﺪﺣأ) ﻊﺒﻀﻠﻟ ةدﺪﻌﺘﻤﻟا تﻼﯿﺠﺴﺘﻟا نأ ﺎﻤﻛ .ﻢﻛ 2×2 ﺎﮭﻨﻣ ﻞﻛ ﺔﺣﺎﺴﻣو
نأ ﻰﻟإ تﻼﺑﺎﻘﻤﻟا ترﺎﺷأ ﻚﻟﺬﻛ .ﻲﺑﺮﻌﻟا ﺐﺋﺬﻟاو ﻖﺷﻮﻟا دﻮﺟو ﻰﻟإ ﺔﻓﺎﺿﻹﺎﺑ ﻞﺋاﻮﻤﻟا ةدﻮﺟ ﺪﯾﺆﺗ
قﺎﻄﻨﻟ ﻦﺋﺎﻜﻟا اﺬھ ناﺪﻘﻓ ﻦﻋ ﺮﺸﻧ ﺎﻣ ﻢﻋﺪﯾ ﺎﻤﻣ ﻲﺿﺎﻤﻟا ﻲﻓ ﺮﺜﻛأ ﺖﻧﺎﻛ ﺮﻤﻨﻟا ﻊﻣ ةﺎﻋﺮﻟا تﺎﮭﺟاﻮﻣ
.ﺎﮭﺑﻮﺠﯾ ﻲﺘﻟا ﻖطﺎﻨﻤﻟا ﻲﻓ ﺮطﺎﺨﻤﻠﻟ ﮫﺿﺮﻌﺗو ﮫﺘﻛﺮﺣ
ﺔﻛرﺎﺸﻣو تارﺪﻘﻟا ءﺎﻨﺑو ثﻮﺤﺒﻟا تﻻﺎﺠﻣ ﻲﻓ ﺔﯿﺳﺎﺳﻷا تﺎﯿﺻﻮﺘﻟﺎﺑ ﺔﻤﺋﺎﻗ ﺮﯾﺮﻘﺘﻟا ﺔﻤﺗﺎﺧ ﻲﻓو
ﺔﺣﺎﺗﻹ ﺎﮭﻋﺎﺒﺗأ ﻲﻐﺒﻨﯾ ﻲﺘﻟا ﺾﯾﻮﻌﺘﻟا ﺞﻣاﺮﺑو ﻲﻋﻮﻟا ﺮﺸﻧو ﻞﺻاﻮﺘﻟا تﺎﻜﺒﺷو ﻦﯿﯿﻠﺤﻤﻟا نﺎﻜﺴﻟا
ﺖﻧﺎﻛ ﻲﺘﻟا ﻖطﺎﻨﻤﻟا ﻲﻓ ﺶﯿﻌﻠﻟ دﻮﻌﯿﻟ ﻦﻜﻟو ﺐﺴﺤﻓ نﺎﻤﻋُ ﻲﻓ ﺲﯿﻟ ءﺎﻘﺒﻠﻟ ﻲﺑﺮﻌﻟا ﺮﻤﻨﻠﻟ ﺔﺻﺮﻔﻟا
. ﺮﯾﺮﻘﺘﻟا ﻲﻓ ﺔﺤﺿﻮﻤﻟاو ﻲﺿﺎﻤﻟا ﻲﻓ ﮫﻟ ﺎﻌً ﺗﺮﻣ
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Contents
Abstract 2
ﺔﺻﻼﺨﻟا 3
Contents 4
1. Expedition Review 5
1.1. Background 5
1.2. ResearchArea 6
1.3. Dates 8
1.4. Local Conditions &Support 8
1.5. Expedition Scientists 9
1.6. Expedition Leader 10
1.7. Expedition Team 10
1.8. Expedition Budget 11
1.9. Acknowledgements 12
1.10. Further Information& Enquiries 12
2. ArabianLeopard& PreySurvey 13
2.1. Introduction 13
2.2. Issues in Arabian Leopard Conservation 15
2.3. Methods 16
2.4. Results 27
2.5. Discussion and Conclusions 36
2.6. Recommendationsfor Action and Further Studies 38
2.5. LiteratureCited 40
Appendix1: Bird inventory 42
Appendix2: Interviewdatasheet 43
Appendix3: Surveydatasheet 46
Appendix4: Expedition leader diary 47
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1. Expedition Review
M.Hammer(editor) MarceloMazzolli
BiosphereExpeditions ProjetoPuma
1.1. Background
Biosphere Expeditions runs wildlife conservation research expeditions to all corners of the
Earth. Projects are not tours, photographic safaris or excursions, but genuine research
expeditions placing ordinary people with no research experience alongside scientists who
are at the forefront of conservation work. Expeditions are open to all and there are no
special skills (biological or otherwise) required to join. Expedition team members are
people from all walks of life and of all ages, looking for an adventure with a conscience
and a sense of purpose. More information about Biosphere Expeditions and its research
expeditions can be found at www.biosphere-expeditions.org.
This expedition report deals with an expedition to the Nejd area of Dhofar in southern
Oman that ran from 13 January – 8 February 2008. The expedition assisted local scientists
from the Office for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court (OCE) in
ascertaining the status of the Arabian leopard in parts of the remote and mountainous
Dhofar region of Oman. The expedition searched for leopard signs and attempted to
camera trap animals in potentially prime leopard habitat, completed a wildlife inventory of
the area, strengthened ties with local people and investigated historical records of leopard
presence.
The Arabian leopard is a flagship species for Oman’s mountain habitats. It once occurred
throughout the mountainous regions of Oman, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab
Emirates, Palestine and Jordan. However, by the 1990s the leopard became locally extinct
in most areas of the Arabian Peninsula and if viable populations remain, they are most
likely to be found in the high mountains of Oman and Yemen.
The Arabian leopard is the largest surviving cat species of Arabia. Listed as “critically
endangered” in the IUCN List of Threatened Species, it is on Appendix 1 of the Convention
on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which strictly regulates
international trade in listed animals.
In 1997 the OCE began a survey of the Arabian leopard in Jabal Samhan Nature Reserve
in Dhofar, where a strong population has been shown to exist. However, the one other
area of Oman where the leopard may survive, namely the Musandam peninsula, had not
been surveyed until Biosphere Expeditions conducted a study in 2006 and 2007. As the
natural prey species in the Musandam region are likely to be at very low numbers,
leopards often have to turn to domestic stock, mainly goats, for food. The socio-economic
interaction with local people and herders were also investigated during the expedition.
With the current project Biosphere Expeditions is helping to fill another gap in knowledge
on the distribution of the Arabian leopard and its prey, this time in the western Dhofar
moutains between wadis Amat and Uyun, in a region known as Nejd.
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1.2. Research Area
FlagandlocationofOmanandstudysite.
AnoverviewofBiosphereExpeditions’
researchsites,assemblypoints,basecamp
andofficelocationsisatGoogleMaps.
Oman is the third largest country in the Arabian Peninsula, with a population of 2.3 million.
It maintained its independency throughout its history except for brief occupations by
Persians and the Portuguese (McBrierty & Al Zubair 2004). The Dhofar mountains in
southern Oman run eastward from the Republic of Yemen to the southernmost eastern tip
of Oman. Salalah is the region’s biggest town and of commercial importance thanks to its
port. The local economy also benefits from fishing and Frankincense harvesting. In areas
along the coastline with good irrigation or rainfalls, fruits such as dates, coconut and
bananas are produced, and cattle are farmed.
Geology
Oman is located in the Arabian plate, which includes the Arabian Peninsula, the shallow
Arabian Gulf and the Zagros mountains of Iran. For most of its history, it has been part of
the larger Afro-Arabian continent until 25-30 million years ago when the Red Sea began to
open and separate the Arabian and African plate. Presently the plate is moving at a rate of
2 to 3 cm per year away from the African plate (Vine 1995).
The mountains of Dhofar in the south and the al Hajar mountains in the north have
different origins (Clarke & Glennie 2006). Those of Dhofar were uplifted as part of the
process of creating the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, which began about 30 million years
ago, whereas the origins of Al Hajar can be traced back 300 million years (Clarke &
Glennie 2006).
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Natural history
Dromedaries Camelus dromedarius, known in the area simply as camels, are found just
about everywhere. Although it has been suggested that they never existed in the wild in
Arabia, there is some evidence that they were probably once found as a wild animal
throughout the Arabian region (Nowak 1999).
Other than dromedaries, Grobler (no year) mentions the following animals, named in
accordance with Hellyer & Aspinall (2005).
MaindistributioninOman
Commonname Latinname Desertof
North South Central
Empty
coast coast coast
Quarter
Arabiantahr Hemitragusjayakari X
Smallspottedgenet Genettafelina X
Honeybadger Mellivoracapensis X
Rockhyrax Procaviacapensis X
Nubianibex Capraibexnubiana X X
Porcupine Hystricaindica X X
Ethiopianhedgehog Paraechinusaethiopicus X X
Brandt’shedgehog P.hypomelas ? ? ?
Wolf Canislupusarabs X X
Blanford’s fox Vulpescana X X
White-tailedmongoose Ichneumiaalbicaudaalbicauda X X
Stripedhyena Hyaenahyaenasultana X X
Arabianleopard Pantherapardusnimr X X
Gordon’swildcat Felissilvestrisgordoni X X X
Caracal Caracalcaracalschmitzi X X X
Arabianredfox Vulpesvulpesarabica X X X X
Rüppell’ssandfox Vulpesrüppelli X X
Arabianoryx* Oryxleucoryx X X
Arabianormountain
Gazellagazellecora X X X X
gazelle
Capehare Lepuscapensis X X X X
Sandgazelle Gazellasubgutturosamarica X X
Sandcat** Felismargaritaharrisoni ? ? X X
*Todayconfinedtoasinglereserve.
**DistributionbasedonNowell&Jackson(1996).
Birds
At present 486 species of birds have been recorded for Oman. Many are seen only during
migration or are winter or summer visitors. Perhaps for this reason, 150 species are
vagrants, which have been seen fewer than ten times (Eriksen & Eriksen 2005).
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1.3. Dates
The expedition ran over a period of four weeks divided into two two-week slots, each
composed of a team of international research assistants, guides, support personnel and
an expedition leader. Expedition slot dates were
13 – 25 January
27 January – 8 February
Winter dates away from the extreme heat of summer were chosen for best weather and
working conditions.
1.4. Local Conditions & Support
Expedition base
The expedition base consisted of a Bedu style tent camp (of a Bedu mess tent and more
modern one and two person dome tents for sleeping in). An expedition cook
complemented the team and vegetarians and other special diets could be catered for.
There was very limited electricity at the field base. The circuit was a car battery based 12V
DC cigarette lighter plug and socket system.
Field communications
There was an (emergency) satellite telephone at base. Mobile phones did not work in and
around camp and around much of the study site. In the field, two-way radios were used for
communication between research teams wherever possible. The expedition leader sent an
expedition diary to the Biosphere Expeditions HQ every few days (see appendix 4) and
this diary appeared on the Biosphere Expeditions website at www.biosphere-
expeditions.org/diaries for friends and family to access.
Transport and vehicles
Team members made their own way to the assembly point in Muscat. From there the team
boarded a one hour flight to Salalah and then drove about four hours to base in the
expedition Land Rovers. From the assembly point onwards and back to the assembly point
all transport and vehicles was provided for the expedition team, for expedition support and
emergency evacuations. Courtesy of Land Rover Middle East & Africa in Dubai, the
expedition had the use of three LR3s and exceptional support from Land Rover Middle
East & Africa in Dubai and the local dealers MHD in Muscat and Salalah throughout.
Team members wishing to drive the Land Rovers had to be older than 21, have a full clean
driving licence and a new style EU or equivalent credit card sized driving licence
document. Off-road driving and safety training was part of the expedition.
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Medical support & insurance
The expedition leader was a trained first aider, and the expedition carried a
comprehensive medical kit. The standard of medical care in Oman is high and further
medical support was available at government health posts in rural areas and a government
hospital in Salalah.
All team members were required to carry adequate travel insurance covering emergency
medical evacuation and repatriation. Emergency evacuation procedures were in place.
There were no serious medical incidents. Some cases of blisters and sore legs after long
surveys occurred. One person suffered from a sprained ankle due to a fall. Furthermore
there was one case of toothache and some minor stomach problems because of the
change of diet.
1.5. Expedition Scientists
The expedition scientists comprise a team from the Office for Conservation of the
Environment based in Muscat. The team is headed by Dr Andrew Spalton and assisted by
field assistants Hadi al Hikmani and Khalid al Hikmani.
Andrew Spalton came to Oman in 1987 to work on the reintroduction of the Arabian oryx.
After six years at the project field headquarters in central Oman he left for Aberdeen
(Scotland) to complete his PhD on the ecology of the oryx. Returning to Oman in 1995,
Andrew took up a new post in Muscat. While continuing to help oversee the oryx project,
he undertook new work with the Arabian leopard and Arabian tahr. He set up the Arabian
Leopard Survey which collected the first information on the ecology of the highly
endangered Arabian leopards. Using camera traps and later satellite collaring, Andrew and
his team have mapped the occurrence and range of the Arabian leopard in southern
Oman. Andrew now works as Adviser for Conservation of the Environment and oversees a
team of scientists and rangers working on the Arabian oryx project, Arabian tahr project
and the Arabian Leopard Survey. His other interests in Oman include whale watching,
diving, trekking and camping in the interior.
The expedition’s field scientist was Dr. Marcelo Mazzolli. Born in Brazil, he graduated in
Biology in 1992, with a master’s degree from the University of Durham, UK. His Ph.D. in
ecology, obtained in Brazil, was on the effects of human occupation on the extinction of
large mammals. He has devoted his career to the study of large mammals, particularly the
puma and jaguar, but has had many other outdoors experiences. He was a professional
jungle guide in the Amazon forest in 1986 at age 21. He has attended many national and
international workshops, and published relevant articles. His studies have made his work
well known, and early in his career he was invited to be a member of the International
Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Cat Specialist Group with one of his projects
listed as a priority in the World Wide Cat Action Plan. He has travelled extensively, living in
the United States and Peru, and has surveyed lions in Botswana.
Hadi Musalam al Hikmani, the expedition’s field guide, was born near Jabal Samhan,
Dhofar. He joined the Office for Conservation of the Environment in 2001, working first as
a volunteer and then since 2002 as a full-time field assistant. He quickly became the local
expert on Arabian leopard and is today responsible for the field work of the Arabian
Leopard Survey. He has also worked on the sand cat and joined expeditions to India
where work is ongoing on the snow leopard.
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